I read an interesting article over the weekend that was published in one of our popular motoring magazines concerning the ever increasing rise in theft of vehicles fitted out with the 'keyless entry' system.
Whilst I was aware that the key was continuously 'hunting' for the appropriate vehicle I hadn't appreciated that with the right equipment, costing less than €100, it was possible to detect, record and save the emitted code from a distance approaching 400m. Criminals are for example, sitting in carparks awaiting for 'keyless entry' fitted vehicles to enter. If the distance between the two parked vehicles is too great or there is disruption to the signal, one of the criminals will follow you into the shop or cafe etc and will then using a device concealed in a plastic bag or laptop case record the signal emitted from the key. Then, fully automatically and using WiFi or a Data transmission, this code will be transferred to the accomplice(s) sitting in the carpark where the recoded code will be saved to another device. The accomplice then approaches the car and the device, which the car sees as the owners key carrying the correct code, opens and in no time the affected vehicle is driven away. The only vehicle not susceptible to this is the Mercedes C300 Coupe with it's removable start knob containing the receiver. That is of course on the assumption that the owner removes and takes the start knob away with them.
Another popular method used by criminals is to walk around estates footpaths during the night. If the vehicle owner has placed the key next to an outside wall and/or window this is sufficient for the key coding to be read and recorded with the same results - goodbye to your vehicle.
Sadly there is at present no answer to this problem which will only increase as more manufacturers jump on the bandwagon of placing convenience above security. Mazda's response to this when questioned by the magazine is that owners can elect to have the keyless entry and start function deactivated by the dealer which of course beggers the question of why do they fit such a system in the first place.
In conclusion, the report recommends that owner of vehicles fitted with the keyless entry system do not place their keys next to outside walls/windows when inside a building (home) and when out and about away from the vehicle, place the key in some sort of metal container.
Alarmist? Somewhat perhaps but I guess if your response is the same as those interviewed by the magazine who have either returned from shopping or gone to the garage first thing in the morning only to find their pride and joy gone missing and have said - 'never ever a keyless entry car again' - the perhaps not so alarmist after all.
